Archaeopteryx coloration

 blather, Crazy, critters, history, news, paleo, science, ಠ_ಠ  1 Response »
Jul 022013
 

Neat:

X-Rays of Iconic Fossil’s Feathers Reveal Color Patterns

This is interesting not only in that it helps to put some detail into our knowledge of the distant past, but also because the light it helps cast on some of the sadder aspect of humanity. There are a number of people who believe that the Archeopteryx is not a fossil, but a hoax.  Examples:

THE ULTIMATE HOAX: ARCHAEOPTERYX LITHOGRAPHICA

What Was Archaeopteryx?

The claim that all ten of the known Archeopteryx fossils are frauds, where someone somehow added the impressions of feathers to an existing fossil of the apparently feather-less Compsognathus, was of course quite silly. But to claim that a century and a half ago the forgers looked forward in time enough to salt the fossil with carefully arranged and vanishingly thin displays of nickel and copper compounds? Feh.

 Posted by at 11:58 pm

Aerospace Projects Review issue V3N3 now available

 aircraft, APR, art, awesomeness, drawings, history, new products, news, projects, rockets, secrets, spacecraft  4 Responses »
Jul 022013
 

At last: issue V3N3 of APR is now available. The first article covers the proposed use of bombers, specifically the B-52 and B-70, as launch platforms for the Dyna Soar manned military spaceplane.

v3n3dynabomberad2

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The second article is on the Martin Astrorocket, a series of early-sixties design studies of reusable low-cost manned launch systems for the USAF.

v3n3astrorocketad

The next article covers the development of the Douglas XC-132 turboprop transport/tanker plane throughout much of the 1950’s. This would have been by far the biggest turboprop plane the us would have built… had it been built. Article contains a number of good photos of the full-scale mockup.

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v3n3c-132ad2

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Next is an article on the A-12 Avenger II stealthy strike plane for the US Navy. This article includes info and drawings on the Northrop competitor, as well as a number of rarely seen and all-new detailed diagrams of the A-12.

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A brief article on a trio of Grumman designs from the 1989-1993 time period, VTOL lift-fan combat aircraft, including the Future Attack Air Vehicle (FAAV).

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Last but not least, an article describing a trio of seemingly unrelated – yet possibly related – designs: a “landing boat” for Project Orion, a lifting body design for the Apollo program, and a fighter jet designed to be launched via booster rockets. Included is information on the logistics Landing Vehicle, General Dynamics’ equivalent of the Douglas ICARUS/Ithacus troop transport rocket.

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And two “Aerospace History Nuggets,” a Ryan concept for a VTOL jetliner and a concept from Bell for linking two helicopters together to forma  single heavy lifter.

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Here’s the complete issue V3N3 layout:

v3n3promo

It is available in three formats. Firstly, it can be downloaded directly from me for the low, low price of $8.50. Second, it can be purchased as a professionally printed volume through Magcloud; third, it can be procured in both formats. To get the download, simply pay for it here through paypal.

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To get the printed version (or print + PDF version), visit my MagCloud page:

http://scottlowther.magcloud.com/

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Also available: the V3N3 Addendum. This contains 30 pages formatted for 11X17. Includes larger and improved versions of all the CAD diagrams produced for V3N3, including:

  • 1/72 versions of the A-12 diagrams
  • Scans of the original A-12 diagrams
  • 1/144 versions of the XC-132 diagrams
  • 1/288 versions of the XC-132 antecedents
  • 1/250 versions of the Dyna Soar/bomber launchers
  • 1/72 versions of the Landing Boat, “Space fighter” and Apollo lifting body
  • 1/200 version of the Nova/LLV

v3n3addpromo

The V3N3 Addendum can be downloaded for only $3.00!
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 Posted by at 8:58 pm

The Death and Return of Superman

 awesomeness, blather, Gah., history, Hmm..., humor, Meh., science fiction, youtube, ಠ_ಠ  1 Response »
Jul 022013
 

Twenty-one years ago, DC Comics killed Superman. And then… promptly brought him back to life. While I wasn’t a particular fan of Superman, nor much of a comic book guy, I recognized this as being pretty farkin’ lame. And I’m not alone.

The documentary shown below, done by Max Landis (son of John) covers the history of this episode succinctly, with lots of exciting profanity. With an all-star cast including Simon Pegg, Ron Howard and Elijah Wood.

[youtube 0PlwDbSYicM]

Huh.

An important point that is made here: “The Death of Superman” didn’t kill Superman. It killed *death,* at least in comics. A list is given of the other comic book characters who have been killed off and then brought back, consequence-free, since the death and return of Superman.

Plus, profanity. And Kelsey Gunn.

 Posted by at 6:58 pm

A Real Estate Investment Idea (British Edition)

 blather, dumbassery, news, weapons, ಠ_ಠ  8 Responses »
Jul 012013
 

If I remember my “Scooby Doo” correctly, there is profit to be made by trying to scare off property owners – or prospective property buyers – by dressing up like a ghost pirate and making them think the place is haunted. While that certainly seems a fine, foolproof sort of plan, a new wrinkle has been demonstrated in the UK:

Couple discover 7,500 machine gun, shotgun and pistol bullets in their back garden while weeding their pond

In short: a small cache of bullets (including the “2.2mm rifle round,” which I’ve never heard of before, but which sounds truly impressive) found in a backyard pond. How did everyone involved respond? Rationally and reasonably? Well…

‘It’s sad because we love this house and have spent time and effort making it a home. And somebody somewhere has ruined that. I don’t want to stay in a house where that kind of thing has been found in the garden. I’m gutted.’

Note that the math in the story doesn’t work:

  • 2,200 bullets – the majority of which were 2.2mm rifle rounds
  • 20 to 30 machine gun rounds
  • two shotgun cartridges
  • more than 50 9mm rounds
  • 30 8mm rounds

How you get >7,500 rounds out of that, I don’t know. And just what is a “machine gun round?” In any event, the lesson here is clear: if you want to drive someone away from their property in today’s Britain, simply scatter a few bullets around.

 

 Posted by at 5:42 pm

You used to be cool, Britain. What happened?

 Crazy, dumbassery, Forward!, I'm from the government, news, politics, religion, ಠ_ಠ  2 Responses »
Jul 012013
 

This article covers only one side of the story, and the source is clearly biased. That said, if it’s even *half* right… Britain would seem to have a problem:

Kansas Jewish Man Refused Entry into Britain

The short form: a student from Kansas was offered a summer job in Britain. When he got to the customs area at Heathrow airport in London, the customs official saw multiple stamps from Israel on his passport, took him out of line, locked him in a room for 9 hours and eventually deported him, reasons unclear. When the British guy who offered the summer job called the relevant officials to inquire why, he was reportedly met with a string of anti-semitism. A number of customs officials were involved, including apparently one wearing a burka, were involved with this.

So… if the story is basically accurate, Britain has started denying entry to Jews.

Other stories on this:

Leawood student claims he was racially profiled overseas

Leawood student turned away at British customs checkpoint

 Posted by at 12:12 pm
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